Centralized cargo handling system for cryogenic vessels

ABSTRACT

An externally insulated tanker vessel intended especially for the transport of liquid cargoes at temperatures differing from ambient temperature, including a cargo handling system which utilizes a centralized pumping station located aft of the cargo carrying midbody of the vessel and a piping system within the tanks. Towards this end, all of the electrical and mechanical devices, such as the pumps, valves, and safety interlocks, necessary for the safe loading and discharge of the liquefied cargo are centralized at the pumping station. An inert atmosphere is maintained throughout the pump room although provision is made for aeration to facilitate inspection, maintenance and repair. The piping system is mounted such that movement relative to the hull is permitted to reduce any thermally induced stresses.

Tarossi 1111 3,848,559 1451 Nov. 19, 1974 CENTRALIZED CARGO HANDLING SYSTEM FOR CRYOGENIC VESSELS 3,253,746 5/l966 Vreedenburgh 114/74 R Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix [75] inventor: Frank J. Tarossl, Middletovvn, NJ. Assistant Examiner jesus D Sotelo [73] Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Attorney, Agent, or Firm--F. Donald Paris Company, Linden, NJ. 221 Filed: Dec. 12, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT An externally insulated tanker vessel Intended espe- PP .1 24,053 cially for the transport of liquid cargoes at tempera- Related Application Data tures differing from ambient temperature, including a [63] Continuation of Ser No 323 406 Jan 15 1973 cargo handling system which utilizes a centralized which is a continuation Of SGI'. 1 16. 1 112,445, Eeb. 24: Pumpmg Siam 'Ocated aft h cargo i g 1970, abandoned. body of the vessel and a piping system w1th1n the tanks. Towards this end, all of the electrical and me- 52 US. Cl 114/74 A Chemical devices, Such as the P p valves, and safety 51 161.01 ..B631i.2s/08 interlocks, necessary for the Safe loading and [58] Field 61 Search 114/74 R, 74 A: "7 2, 73; Charge of the liquefied cargo are centralized at the 62/50, 5 5 pumping station. An inert atmosphere is maintained throughout the pump room although provision is made 5 References Cited for aeration to facilitate inspection, maintenance and UNITED STATES PATENTS repair. The piping system is mounted such that move- 3 (m 856 5/1962 w d 14/74 A ment relative to the hull is permitted to reduce any 1e emann et a 3.129 84 4/1964 Cockrell 114/74 A thermally mduced Stresses 3.213.632 l0/l965 Valk et al. 114 74 A 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 7 M 114 4 a a 4 15 A 4 2454 (4 26 4f Z6 .1 if

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CENTRALIZED CARGO HANDLING SYSTEM FOR CRYOGENIC VESSELS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 323,406

filed Jan. 15, 1973, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 118,445, filed Feb. 24, 1970, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to liquid carrying tankers and more particularly, to an externally insulated LNG tanker, wherein the tanker may comprise a single shell internally stiffened both longitudinally and transversely and cargo sections subdivided into tank spaces by longitudinal and transverse bulkheads with the tanker shell forming the outer tank boundary.

It is well known that the waterborne transportation of liquefied natural gas at or near atmospheric pressure has required radical departures from conventional tanker design. Since at cryogenic temperature the steels normally employed in ship construction become so brittle that they no longer provide structural integrity, the major design effort has been directed toward the development of satisfactory tank systems to contain the cryogenic cargo apart from the ships structure.

To cope with the problem of low temperature embrittlement of mild steel, a variety of designs have been provided for independent or self-supporting and integrated or membrane tanks. However,- these prior art solutions have proven to-be relatively unsatisfactory in that not only do they provide an LNG ship which is significantly more expensive than a conventional tanker of similar capacity, but the ship is dependent upon the integrity of a multitude of barrier and warning systems for structural security, and in the case of membrane tanks, there is raised the question of long term durabil- The novel construction and arrangement of the present invention for a centralized cargo handling system is employed in conjunction with the utilization of low temperature nickel alloy steel or a like material for the hull structure throughout the cargo section or midbody of the vessel. Since at cryogenic temperatures nickel "steel possesses mechanical properties far superior to those of ordinary structural steel, many of the problems tanks. Preferably, the centralized pumping station is located aft of the cargo carrying midbody of the vessel while all of the electrical and mechanical devices such as the pumps, valves, safety interlocks, etc., necessary for the safe loading and discharge of the liquefied cargo are centralized at the pumping station. The inert atmoelimination of the cargo pumps within the tank thereby removing a possible source of ignition and the elimination of most of the cargo piping on deck, which reduces the likelihood of fire, structural failure or personal injury that can result from cargo leakage. A further advantage obtained is increased reliability since with the elimination of the cargo pumps within the tanks this reduces the difficulty and frequency of pump maintenance and associated delays. By employing a centralized cargo handling system according to the present invention the conventional systems which can be eliminated comprise the nitrogen inerting of access and interbarriers spaces; gas analysis of the access interbarrierspaces; temperature sensing of the access and interbarrier spaces; drainage of the access and interbarrier spaces; separate discharge pumps for each tank; and a significant portion of the on deck cargo piping as mentioned heretofore. By eliminating the installation of motor-driven submerged pumps within each of the tanks and the corresponding potential source of ignition, warm-up and cool down operations then may be carried out without an intermediate inert gas purging operation which is now required.

It is clearly apparent from the foregoing that the present invention has numerous significant advantages over the prior art cargo handling arrangements presently in use forliquefied cargoes at temperatures higher or lower than ambient temperature. The novel arrangement and construction of the presently proposed cargo for the liquefied naturalgas cargo. This removes the necessity for independent tanks or membrane liners, access spaces, cofferdams and secondary barriers. One such typical vessel construction employing an externally insulated nickel steel hull is disclosed in the U.S. Gorman Pat. No. 3,283,734, assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The foregoing Gorman patent does not disclose the means for accomplishing the handling of the liquefied cargo.

Heretofore substantially all LNGships built or those which are presently under construction have utilized independent cargo pumps submerged in each tank.

Such arrangements.significantly increase the complexity of and associated cost of any cargo handling system. Furthermore, maintenance and repairs can be accomplished only after warm-up, inerting and aeration of the cargo tanks.

The present invention contemplates utilizing a centralized cargo handling system which employsa centralized pumping station and piping system within the handling system provides greater cargo capacity for given ship dimensions than presently known technology, in addition to providing a vessel having the advantages disclosed above.

- Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vessel designed to carry liquids at other than ambient temperature with a novel and improved cargo handling system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an externally insulated tanker with a novel centralized cargo handling system for the handling of liquid cargoes.

Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cyrogenic cargo carrying vessel with a 'system for handling the liquefied cargo, such as LNG. through a centralized pumping station and piping sysrangements as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of an externally insulated tanker incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 1 illustrating the centralized pumping station and piping arrangement within the aftermost tank;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3 illustrating in elevation the pumping station and showing in particular the features for maintaining an inert atmosphere and for periodic aeration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Having reference to the drawings, the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as embodied in an externally insulated tanker having a nickel steel plate hull at its midbody, reference being made to the U.S. Gorman Patent No. 3,283,734 for a more complete and detailed explanation thereof.

The tanker generally includes a hull H, an engine room or power plant 12, and a superstructure S, all arranged as shown. The forward hull portion or bow 14 and the after hull portion or stern 16 are fabricated conventionally from mild steel plate and mild steel strengthening members. The forward and after hull portions 14 and 16 each typically may include ballast tanks (not shown).

In accordance with the teachings of the previous invention as disclosed in the Gorman patent, the cargo carrying midbody of the vessel is fabricated from a metal plate possessing physical and mechanical properties compatible with the particular cargo to be carried. One such typical material may comprise a nickel steel containing substantially 9 percent nickel as disclosed in the aforesaid Gorman patent. The cargo hold or midbody of the vessel may be subdivided into a plurality of individual cargo holds 24, 24a; 26, 26a; 28, 28a; 30, 30a; and 32, 32a by means of transverse bulkheads 34 and a longitudinal bulkhead 36 extending vertically between the deck and vessel bottom, and is completely enveloped or clad externally with a suitable thermal insulation material 38. It should be noted that although the ships midbody structure has been disclosed as comprising a material such as 9 percent nickel steel for cryogenic products, such as methane and the like, in the case of other low temperature products such as LPG, usual tank quality steel would be sufficient while ordinary quality steel would suffice for high temperature products.

The present invention discloses an arrangement for handling of the liquefied natural gas cargo by means of a centralized cargo handling system. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a cofferdam which comprises a pump room between the aftmost cargo tank 24, 24a and the engine room 12. This pump room or pumping station is maintained at ambient temperature, but with a nitrogen atmosphere as will be described hereinafter in greater detail, and is insulated from the cargo carrying hold by means of internal insulation 40 a cofferdam 20 is also provided at the forward end of the vessel. For a more complete description of the specific construction and arrangement of the insulation in the area between the cargo hold and the conventional vessel structure, both at the stern and the bow, reference should be made to copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 32,691, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,671,315 assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention. Extending from the pump room beneath the deck of the vessel are a plurality of cool down and recirculating pipes generally designated 41. Along the keel of the ship extending from the pump room toward the bow is the main cargo piping, which includes the tank fill and discharge pipes, generally designated 42. FIG. 2 shows in detail the arrangement of the pipes comprising the cool down and recirculating piping 41 and as illustrated, comprises pipes 44, 44a; 46, 46a; 48, 48a; 50, 50a; and 52, 52a. As illustrated, a single pair of cool down and recirculating pipes, for example 44 and 44a, extend to and terminate at a corresponding cargo hold. Expansion loops 54, which may be optional, are provided along with the length of the pipes to allow for contraction of the pipes on cooling. Also pipe support means 56 are provided to allow for longitudinal movement of each of the pipes.

The pump room 20 contains two main cargo pumps 58 and 580, each of which are connected through suitable conventional piping and valve arrangements generally designated 64 and 64a to their corresponding tank fill and discharge pipes. See FIG. 3. Each of the fill and discharge pipes 42 is provided with conventional emergency cutoff valves 66 and 66a to isolate the pump room from the cargo tanks for maintenance and in the case of an emergency which may require shutting off flow in one or more of the pipes. Within each portion of the longitudinal bulkhead 36 which extends between adjacent transverse bulkheads 34, there is provided an emergency crossover valve 68 which can be utilized in conventional fashion to transfer cargo transversely from one tank to another in the event of a malfunction in the cargo system to the first tank. Also provided in the pump room are a pair of recirculating pumps 60 and 60a connected by a suitable piping arrangement through the valve arrangements 64, 64a to the cargo discharge pipes 42 and to the cool down and recirculating pipes 41 and 41a. These pumps function to cool the cargo tank section from ambient to cryogenic temperature and to prevent the buildup of undesirable temperature differentials during the return voyage by taking suction from the nearly empty cargo tanks and recirculating back to the tanks in the form of spray cooling. Cargo fill and discharge lines 62 and 68a are provided for transferring cargo to or from shore facilities. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, there is provided a loading manifold 70 for bringing the cargo onboard through lines 62, 62a, and distributing it throughout the cargo holds.

FIG. 4 shows aerating means 76 and 76a, one of which functions as an air inlet and the other as an exhaust. Thus, while an inert atmosphere is maintained throughout the pump room as will be explained in greater detail hereafter, the aerating means provide the desired atmosphere for aeration of the pump room to what is claimed herein is:

facilitate inspection, maintenance and repair of the equipment. An inert atmosphere is obtained by means of a nitrogen evaporator and heater 80. A tank 82 stores liquid nitrogen received through an inlet pipe 82 and feeds the liquid nitrogen into the evaporator and heater 80. A gas analyzer 84 connected to the nitrogen inlet line 80' through valve 92 functions to control the amount of liquid nitrogen passed to the evaporator and thence to the pump room. Operatively connected therewith is an alarm 86 which sounds if methane vapors are present in the pump room. The inert atmosphere is maintained by exhausting warm inert gas into the pump room through the outlet line 80" and thus, maintains the desired inert atmosphere. A pressure sensor 88 of conventional construction is connected to the nitrogen evaporator and heater 80 to provide an indication as to when the pressure is above a predetermined level. A drainage pipe 90 is connected with the recirculation pumps 60, 60a for'removal of liquid cargo leakage from the drip pan 91.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that a novel and improved cargo handling system for a tanker as disclosed herein enjoys significant advantages over conventional systems as discussed in the introductory portion of this application.

It should be understood that the specific construction Having thus set forth the nature of the invention,

l. A tanker for the transportation of liquid cargo at atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperatures comprising, in combination:

a. a deck;

b. a hull having forward, after and intermediate cargo-carrying portions, said cargo-carrying portion having a transverse bulkhead located at each end thereof and being constructed and arranged into a plurality. of cargo-carrying holds between said ends; f

c. cofferdam means located aft of said cargo-carrying portion to provide a pump room for housing electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the loading and discharge of the liquid cargo,

aa. said pump room including manifold means for loading and discharging said liquid cargo and pump means operably associated therewith;

d. a first piping system including a first plurality of separate and independent main cargo pipes extending longitudinally along the bottom of said hull within said cargo-carrying portion, each one of said separate and independent pipes being connected at one end to said pump means and terminating in a different corresponding one of said cargo-carrying holds, whereby said liquid cargo can be selectively distributed throughout the tanker; and

e. a second piping system including a second plurality of separate and independent cooldown and recirculation pipes extending longitudinally at the top of 65 said hull adjacent and below said deck, each one of said separate and independent cooldown and recirculation pipes being connected at one end to said pump means and selected ones of said pipes operably extending to and terminating at different corresponding ones of said cargo-carrying holds.

2. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein means are provided within said pump room for maintaining an inert atmosphere therein.

3. A tanker according to claim 2 wherein there is provided within said pump room means for aerating said room to facilitate inspection, maintenance and repair of the equipment housed therein.

4. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said first and second piping systems include valves for selectively shutting off the flow of liquid through said pipes.

5. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said pipes terminating in said cargo-carrying holds forward of the cargo-carrying hold directly adjacent said pump room are provided with expansion loops to allow for contraction of said pipes upon cooling thereof.

6. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said pump room includes a storage tank for storing liquid nitrogen, a combined nitrogen evaporator and heater adapted for an inert atmosphere within said pump room, means including a valve and a gas analyzing control device connecting said storage tank and said nitrogen evaporator and heater for feeding liquid nitrogen into the latter, and pressure sensing means operative in response to the pressure maintained in said pump room for closing said valve to terminate the supply of liquid nitrogen to said evaporator and heater.

7. A tanker according to claim 6 wherein gas analyzer means is provided within said pump room and means operably connecting said gas analyzer means to said valve for sampling the atmosphere maintained within said pump room and providing an alarm in the event of cargo leakage.

8. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises first and second main cargo pumps and first and second recirculating pumps, safety interlocking means interconnecting said pumps in operable relationship with said first and second piping systems.

9. A tanker for the transportation of liquid cargo at atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperatures comprising in combination:

a. a deck;

b. a hull having forward, after and intermediate cargo-carrying portions, said cargo-carrying portion having a transverse bulkhead located at each end thereof and being constructed and arranged into a plurality of cargo-carrying holds between said ends;

0. cofferdam means located aft of said cargo-carrying portion to provide a pump room for housing electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the loading and discharge of the liquid cargo,

aa. said pump room including manifold means for loading and discharging said liquid cargo, first and second main cargo pumps and first and second recirculating pumps, means operably interconnecting said first and second cargo and recirculating pumps with first and second piping systems respectively, said pump room further including means for maintaining an inert atmosphere therein comprising nitrogen evaporator and heater means and a storage tank for supplying liquid nitrogen to said evaporator and heater means and analyzer means for controlling the amount of liquid nitrogen passed to said evaporator and heater means, and means for aerating said pump room to facilitate inspection, maintenance and repair of equipment located therein, pressure sensing means operative in response to the pressure of said pump room for terminating the supply of liquid nitrogen into the pump room;

d. said first piping system including a first plurality of separate and independent main cargo-carrying pipes extending longitudinally along the bottom of said hull within said cargo-carrying portion, each one of said separate and independent pipes being operably connected at one end with said main cargo pumps and terminating at the opposite end in different ones of said cargocarrying holds,

whereby said liquid cargo is selectively distributed throughout the tanker; and

. said second piping system including a second plu- 

1. A tanker for the transportation of liquid cargo at atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperatures comprising, in combination: a. a deck; b. a hull having forward, after and intermediate cargo-carrying portions, said cargo-carrying portion having a transverse bulkhead located at each end thereof and being constructed and arranged into a plurality of cargo-carrying holds between said ends; c. cofferdam means located aft of said cargo-carrying portion to provide a pump room for housing electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the loading and discharge of the liquid cargo, aa. said pump room including manifold means for loading and discharging said liquid cargo and pump means operably associated therewith; d. a first piping system including a first plurality of separate and independent main cargo pipes extending longitudinally along the bottom of said hull within said cargo-carrying portion, each one of said separate and independent pipes being connected at one end to said pump means and terminating in a different corresponding one of said cargo-carrying holds, whereby said liquid cargo can be selectively distributed throughout the tanker; and e. a second piping system including a second plurality of separate and independent cooldown and recirculation pipes extending longitudinally at the top of said hull adjacent and below said deck, each one of said separate and independent cooldown and recirculation pipes being connected at one end to said pump means and selected ones of said pipes operably extending to and terminating at different corresponding ones of said cargo-carrying holds.
 2. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein means are provided within said pump room for maintaining an inert atmosphere therein.
 3. A tanker according to claim 2 wherein there is provided within said pump room means for aerating said room to facilitate inspection, maintenance and repair of the equipment housed therein.
 4. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said first and second piping systems include valves for selectively shutting off the flow of liquid through said pipes.
 5. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said pipes terminating in said cargo-carrying holds forward of the cargo-carrying hold directly adjacent said pump room are provided with expansion loops to allow for contraction of said pipes upon cooling thereof.
 6. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said pump room includes a storage tank for storing liquid nitrogen, a combined nitrogen evaporator and heater adapted for an inert atmosphere within said pump room, means including a valve and a gas analyzing control device connecting said storage tank and said nitrogen evaporator and heater for feeding liquid nitrogen into the latter, and pressure sensing means operative in response to the pressure maintained in said pump room for closing said valve to terminate the supply of liquid nitrogen to said evaporator and heater.
 7. A tanker according to claim 6 wherein gas analyzer means is provided within said pump room and means operably connecting said gas analyzeR means to said valve for sampling the atmosphere maintained within said pump room and providing an alarm in the event of cargo leakage.
 8. A tanker according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises first and second main cargo pumps and first and second recirculating pumps, safety interlocking means interconnecting said pumps in operable relationship with said first and second piping systems.
 9. A tanker for the transportation of liquid cargo at atmospheric pressure and cryogenic temperatures comprising in combination: a. a deck; b. a hull having forward, after and intermediate cargo-carrying portions, said cargo-carrying portion having a transverse bulkhead located at each end thereof and being constructed and arranged into a plurality of cargo-carrying holds between said ends; c. cofferdam means located aft of said cargo-carrying portion to provide a pump room for housing electrical and mechanical equipment necessary for the loading and discharge of the liquid cargo, aa. said pump room including manifold means for loading and discharging said liquid cargo, first and second main cargo pumps and first and second recirculating pumps, means operably interconnecting said first and second cargo and recirculating pumps with first and second piping systems respectively, said pump room further including means for maintaining an inert atmosphere therein comprising nitrogen evaporator and heater means and a storage tank for supplying liquid nitrogen to said evaporator and heater means and analyzer means for controlling the amount of liquid nitrogen passed to said evaporator and heater means, and means for aerating said pump room to facilitate inspection, maintenance and repair of equipment located therein, pressure sensing means operative in response to the pressure of said pump room for terminating the supply of liquid nitrogen into the pump room; d. said first piping system including a first plurality of separate and independent main cargo-carrying pipes extending longitudinally along the bottom of said hull within said cargo-carrying portion, each one of said separate and independent pipes being operably connected at one end with said main cargo pumps and terminating at the opposite end in different ones of said cargo-carrying holds, whereby said liquid cargo is selectively distributed throughout the tanker; and e. said second piping system including a second plurality of separate and independent cooldown and recirculation pipes extending longitudinally at the top of said hull adjacent and below said deck, each one of said separate and independent cooldown and recirculation pipes being operably connected at one end to said recirculation pumps and the opposite end of said pipes operably extending to and terminating in different ones of said cargo-carrying holds. 